Curated OER
Igneous Rocks
High schoolers focus on a study of igneous rocks. They see how igneous rocks are formed, and how to distinguish them from other types of rocks. A crystal-growing activity is present, and learners create drawings that show where each...
Curated OER
Project Geode
Young geologists attempt to predict the appearnace of a geode's internal structure based on how it looks from the outside, its mass, and its physical characteristics. In this geologly instructional activity, learners use scientific...
Curated OER
Rock Stories
Youngsters pretend they are rocks sitting on a hill. They listen to the provided guided imagery script to conceptualize the process of how rocks change over time. They draw a diagram of what happened to them as rocks during the story. An...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Review the difference between rocks and minerals using this resource. Learners identify and investigate the physical properties of these objects. They create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast types of rocks. This is a motivating way...
Curated OER
Rock Pioneers
Students explore geology by participating in a field trip exercise. In this rock analysis lesson, students discuss rock formations and how water moves rocks according to the tide. Students conduct a tide activity by marking a rock of...
Curated OER
Rockin' Chalk
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of rocks and minerals. In this petroglyphs lesson, 4th graders become familiar with artwork on rocks. Students create original artworks using rock art.
Curated OER
Pet Rocks
Students complete a variety of activities related to the physical characteristics of minerals. They classify and group candy, classify rocks and complete a Pet River Rock worksheet. Students try to guess which rock goes with each...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Students identify how weathering and erosion effect the Earth's surface. In this weathering and rocks lesson, students study various types of rocks in water and brainstorm ways the Earth's surface changes. Students view an interactive...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals Unit
Learners test and identify minerals according to their physical properties. In this mineral analysis lesson, students brainstorm ways to identify rocks and list their ideas on chart paper. Learners study samples in pairs and identify the...
Curated OER
Identify a Mineral Worksheet
In this minerals activity, learners choose a mineral to research, write its name and draw a picture. Students research about the mineral's color, luster, hardness, gravity, fracture, crystal form and transparency. Learners make notes of...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
In this word search worksheet, students solve a word search by locating forty words related to rocks and minerals. The word list includes mica and ruby.
Curated OER
Mining the Web
In this rock and mineral instructional activity, learners visit http://sciencespot.net and explore a variety of sites about rocks and minerals in order to complete questions about geology, the rock cycle, and rock creations.
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Fifth graders examine different types of rocks and classify rocks by their different characteristics. In small groups they sort their rocks into two categories, then create three categories to sort by on a sorting worksheet. Next, they...
Curated OER
Rock and Mineral Uses
Second graders investigate the various uses of rocks and minerals. They examine various rocks and minerals, identify the uses of rocks and minerals, and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
I Spy
Second graders investigate the properties and uses of rocks. They sort magazine pictures into the categories of living and nonliving, play a game of I Spy for objects made of rock, and make rubbings of the rock items for their Rock...
Curated OER
8th GRade SCience End of the Year Flip Video Review
Students explore video taping. In this science review lesson, students create a video of an assigned science unit as a peer study tool.
Curated OER
Science Cards
In this science worksheet, students make and fill out two rock and mineral cards for their science class. Students put a fact about rocks and minerals on each one.
Curated OER
Bring A Rock
Students investigate rocks and minerals. They collect a rock, describe it in writing, and in small groups divide their group of rocks into subgroups based on their team's classification.
Curated OER
Just a Bag of Rocks
Pupils examine and investigate a bag of rocks. They sort and classify the rocks, analyze the textures, and answer conclusion questions.
Curated OER
Create Your Own Rock!
Fourth graders create and name their own rock by combining paper minerals. They define rock and mineral, examine samples of minerals, and using colored scrap paper, arrange and glue the pieces of paper to represent a new mineral.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Your Revision Notes on Rocks
Covers the three main types of rocks, different weathering processes, erosion, and the rock cycle.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Minerals, Crystals, and Gems
Through this series of three lessons, learners will gain an understanding of the basics of mineral science. In their investigation they will also work through the scientific process as they practice their observation skills, form...
Other
Mainland Aggregates, Ltd: Many Uses of Sand
This infographic includes a calculation for how many grains of sand are on the Earth. It discusses what sand is, its history of use by humans, and its many uses in modern times.
Other
National Stone, Sand & Gravel: 50 Fascinating Facts About Stone, Sand & Gravel
Discusses the history of aggregate use from ancient to modern times, reclamation of mined land, and responsible environmental practices. Also provides figures for the huge amounts of aggregates produced and used for various construction...